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Home My Public Portal About06 20 2019 PC MinutesThe Town of Lees6urg in Virginia Leesburg Planning Commission Meeting Minutes June 20, 2019 The Leesburg Planning Commission met on Thursday, June 20, 2019 in Town Hall Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176. Staff members present included Susan Berry Hill, Scott Parker, Barbara Notar, and Karen Cicalese. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chairman Kidder. Members Present: Chairman Kidder, Commissioners Barnes, Barney (arrived at 7:01), Faliskie, Lanham, Nacy, and Walker Absent: Council Member Dunn ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Commissioner Walker Second: Commissioner Lanham Vote: 6-0-1 (Barney not present for vote) APPROVAL OF MINUTES June 6, 2019 Draft Minutes Motion: Commissioner Faliskie Second: Commissioner Nacy Vote: 6-0-1 (Barney not present for vote) DISCLOSURE OF MEETINGS Commissioner Barnes disclosed a brief telephone conversation with Bob Sevila. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT None PETITIONERS None PUBLIC HEARING TLSE-2018-0007 RightAway Storage Public Hearing, Scott Parker, Sr. Planning Project Manager, Planning and Zoning Chairman Kidder opened the public hearing at 7:02 PM and invited staff to make their presentation. Mr. Parker explained that the Applicant was seeking a Special Exception for a Mini -warehouse (self -storage) per TLZO Sec. 6.7.2 Use regulations. The subject property is currently zoned I-1, 1 Leesburg Planning Commission June 20, 2019 Industrial/Research Park, and is subject to approved proffers associated with case TLZM-2000- 0006. The Applicant is proposing a special exception as allowable under the current proffers referred to as principal uses allowed on the property; specifically Proffer 9. The mini -warehouse use (aka self -storage) is required to obtain a special exception in that this is a specific type of warehousing under Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Sec. 6.7.2, Industrial/Research Park District, Use Regulations. In addition, there are requirements for this use under TLZO Sec. 9.3.14, Use Standards. The Applicant's proposal consists of a request for a 105,500 Square Foot mini -warehouse facility. This two and a half story, 40 -foot tall self -storage facility contains customer storage spaces of varying sizes that are fully internal to the building and accessed via corridors internal to the building as well. There are a limited number of employees at the facility (approximately four maximum at any given time), and the hours of the facility are regulated. The hours of operation of the Welcome Center (which is integrated into the facility) is from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm weekdays and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturdays and Sundays. Gated access for customers will be available from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, seven (7) days a week. At all other times, the facility will not be accessible to customers or the general public. All loading into the building is internal via a cantilevered loading area. Significant effort has been placed on architecture for this facility based on its prominent location at the corner of Sycolin Road and Tavistock Drive and its proximity to existing residential uses in the Tavistock Farms community. Although buffer modifications are being proposed, landscaping and buffering plays an important role in the development of this project. Mr. Parker gave an overview of current site conditions noting that is comprised of 2.5 acres and is unimproved. An entry sign for Tavistock which is flanked by two mature trees is located on the property. The Applicant has committed to allow both the sign and the flanking trees to remain on the property. There is very little vegetation on the site, although some existing street trees exist along the property's frontage along Tavistock Drive. These trees will be removed and replaced as part of the application. Mr. Parker discussed the zoning history of the property which is zoned I-1, Industrial/Research Park and is part of the Brownell subdivision that became annexed into the Town in 1985. The property came into the Town zoned as Loudoun County PD -IP until 1990, when the Town did a comprehensive revision to the Official Zoning Map and re -designated it as Town I-1 District. The property has been the subject of a proffered rezoning (TLZM-1985-0058) and is subject to two proffer amendments (TLZM-1989-0113 and TLZM-2000-0006). The most germane proffer for the subject property is Proffer 9 that sets forth the uses for the Airpark properties. Various property owners in the vicinity have amended their Proffer 9 requirements, including in 2017, Leesburg Tech Park, which received approval for the recently created Business Park use. The Leesburg Tech Park property was unimproved and is now under construction. The Applicant is requesting the following Modifications and Waivers: 2 Leesburg Planning Commission June 20, 2019 1. Modification #1: Request to modify TLZO Sec. 12.8.2.G.1 Buffer Yards Adjacent to Certain Streets. Recommendation: Approval. 2. Modification #2: Request for modification to TLZO Sec. 12.8.2.F.2 Existing Development Not Complyingi With Buffer -Yard Requirements. Recommendation: Approval. 3. Modification #3: Request for modification to TLZO Sec. 12.8.21.2, Existing Development Complying With Buffer -Yard Requirements. Recommendation: Approval, 4. Waiver Request #1: Request for Waiver of Street Trees as Required by TLZO Sec. 12.4.1 Street Trees, Applicability. Recommendation: Approval 5. Waiver Request #2: Request for Waiver of Street Trees as Required by TLZO Sec. 12.4.1 Street Trees, Applicability. Recommendation: Approval 6. DCSM Modification request related to the reduction of spacing between the proposed site entrance and the Tall Oaks Square entrance from 200 feet to 190 feet. This modification will need to be reviewed and approved by the Director of Plan Review. Mr. Parker gave an overview of staff's analysis of the application noting that it was in compliance with the Town Plan and had met the Special Exception Approval Criteria of Zoning Ordinance Section 3.4.12 and the use standards of Section 9.3.14 (Mini -warehouse facilities). Mr. Parker concluded his presentation with staff's recommendation of approval of the Special Exception and modification and waiver requests subject to the conditions of approval and modifications enumerated in the June 20, 2016 Planning Commission Staff Report. Chairman Kidder invited the Applicant to make their presentation. Bob Sevila, Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White PC, representative for the Applicant, delivered the presentation noting that they were in agreement with staff's analysis and recommendation. He gave a brief overview of the application and explained that Chris Brandaleone, the property owner, applicant, and ultimately the operator of the proposed facility was in attendance as well as their engineer, Mark Baker from Bowman Consulting, to answer any technical questions the Commission may have. They have given three separate presentations to the Board of Directors of the Tavistock Community HOA. Each occurred after receiving staff's comment letters on the application. He had asked the HOA if they would submit a letter in support of the application and he was told that their silence and lack of presence at this meeting would be a sufficient indication to the Commission that they do not have any objection to the proposed application. Additionally, they had received a very favorable letter of support from Mr. Utendorf, 822 Tavistock Drive. Eric Spencer, the neighbor adjacent to Mr. Utendorf has also voiced that he has no objection. Chris Brandaleone, Lion Gate Ventures, the Applicant, discussed the operation of this facility noting Lion Gate Ventures, owns, develops, and operates everything they are associated with. He stressed that they care about the communities they are in and strive to be a good neighbor. 3 Leesburg Planning Commission June 20, 2019 Chairman Kidder called for Planning Commission questions? How much noise does the gate make? Mr. Parker explained that they are using a high-tech gate that is practically silent. What are the hours of operation? Mr. Parker replied that if was 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Will someone be able to enter the facility at 9:55 PM and be able to remain until they load/unload? Mr. Brandaleone explained that the gates lock at 10:00 preventing entering or exiting the facility. They do have call alarms and phones on site in the instance that someone is stuck inside and a staff member can open the gate remotely. Is there any issue or concern with stormwater going into the Tech Park? Mr. Parker replied that there was none due to the stormwater management design. There will be some engineering work to be done at site plan. Will the signage only be on the portion of the building facing Sycolin? Mr. Parker explained that the building signage is not part of the application as they have to meet the Town's sign code. Was the building size changed due to staff comments received? Mr. Parker explained that the building size was reduced by approximately 10,000 s.f. and brought the height down as well in the second submission. Will off-site storage be allowed? Mr. Parker replied that it was not. How will night lighting be handled? Mr. Baker, Bowman Consulting, explained that the three poles were a finished height of 20 feet from the ground and fully shielded. There are also a few wall pack lights. How much parking is provided? Mr. Parker responded that there were 11 spaces. 4 Leesburg Planning Commission June 20, 2019 BAR REPORT Commissioner Lanham explained that he did not attend the BAR meeting however, there was a special meeting scheduled for Monday, June 24th to discuss the old Loudoun Times Mirror Building. TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Ms. Berry Hill informed the Commission that it had been determined to cancel the second meeting in August. The Commission will only meet on August 1St ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm. Appr ved by: Karen Cicalese, Commission Clerk Doris Kidder, dhair N. Leesburg Planning Commission June 20, 2019 BAR REPORT Commissioner Lanham explained that he did not attend the BAR meeting however, there was a special meeting scheduled for Monday, June 24th to discuss the old Loudoun Times Mirror Building. TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Ms. Berry Hill informed the Commission that it had been determined to cancel the second meeting in August. The Commission will only meet on August 1St ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adj ourned at 8:3 8 pm. Approved by: Karen Cicalese, Commission Clerk Doris Kidder, Chair 0